Museum
National Holocaust Museum
The Netherlands' museum documenting the persecution of Dutch Jews during WWII.
Photo: Nationaal Holocaustmuseum / Google
- Area
- Plantage
- Type
- Museum
About the experience
National Holocaust Museum is a WWII and history museum in the Plantage. The Netherlands' museum documenting the persecution of Dutch Jews during WWII.
Good to know
The museum occupies a former teacher-training college whose history is closely tied to the persecution it documents. Children were helped to escape through this building from the neighbouring crèche, where Jewish children were held apart from their parents before deportation. Across the street stands the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a former theatre used as a collection point for Jews awaiting deportation. These connections make the museum’s location part of its story, rather than simply a setting for the exhibitions.
Inside, personal belongings, photographs and testimony bring individual lives into focus. The displays explore Jewish life as well as the exclusion, persecution and murder of Jews, showing how discrimination became embedded in everyday society. This is a visit that calls for time and attention rather than a quick circuit of highlights. Afterwards, a quiet walk through the surrounding streets can offer space to reflect; the nearby National Holocaust Names Memorial provides another way to engage with individual stories of loss.
Photo gallery
Photo: karel gabler / Google · Photo: Nationaal Holocaustmuseum / Google · Photo: Alfons C / Google · Photo: Michel van Diepen / Google · Photo: Vincenza Ferini / Google
Frequently asked questions
How long should I allow for a visit?
Allow at least an hour or two, and more if you want to read the displays closely. Leave some unhurried time afterwards, as the subject matter can be emotionally demanding.
Should I book ahead, and where can I check admission details?
Check the museum’s official website for current booking requirements, ticket prices and opening hours before travelling.
Is the museum suitable for children?
The exhibitions address persecution and murder, so consider your child’s age and sensitivity. Check the museum’s official visitor guidance and be prepared to discuss what you see together.
Can I combine it with the Hollandsche Schouwburg?
The Hollandsche Schouwburg is across the street and is directly connected to the history explored in the museum. Check the official website for current access arrangements at both sites.
Where can I find accessibility information?
Consult the museum’s official website for accessibility information, or contact the museum about your specific needs. Check arrangements for each site separately if you plan to visit other nearby memorials.
National Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam
Plantage Middenlaan 27, 1018 DB, Amsterdam